2011 Shed Hunt (2-27-11)

-Shed hunt with my buddy Justin Vanek.
-First Shed of the hunt...another "textbook" fenceline shed.

-Uh Oh! Many miles walked to find Vaneks "target buck."
-I had that feeling that we were in what I call a "sheddy" area.
-I almost felt like this antler said, "Hey Stupid, over here!"
-When I spotted these tines sticking out of the snow, I said "uh-oh" knowing that this might be Vaneks target buck of the 2010 deer season.

-THE "ATL" (as they lay)

-Trail cam pics of Vaneks target buck ("boss buck")

-More trail cam pics of "boss buck" on Vaneks blog. http://deerandmoredeer.blogspot.com/

-This deer has more mass than what you think!

Shed hunt 2011 (February 20)

After having a great shed hunting day yesterday, I felt like I had to try and get after it today also. I woke up early and was going to take it easy as my feet and legs hurt from the hike from the day before, but it was too nice and felt like I should go for a couple of hours and just binocular some wheat fields. Im glad I did! I didnt find a single antler glassing wheat fields but on the way out I spotted what I call a 50 mph road shed. Driving along and noticed this antler on the other side of the fence. I was excited so I hurried and took a picture of it and noticed another antler on the opposite side of the fence. I though for sure I just found a set, but I was wrong. Another deer jumped this fence on this trail and shed his antler also. I walked up a the trail a bit to try to find one of the other sides but no luck. Watching fencelines where deer trails cross them have been really paying off for me this year as I found 7 or 8 by doing this.
If you look close you can see both antlers in this picture.

After glassing another wheat field I decided to walk this narrow hay draw leading to the wheat and stumbled across this nice 5 point!

2011 Shed Hunt (February 19)

Spotted this antler in the ditch from the county road while driving out this morning. The other side of the fence was a wheat field. Uncle Charlie and I were excited to get the day started off with an easy find.

After walking awhile, I spotted this lil guy from the hill in the picture.

About 50 yards later I spotted this antler.

20 yards from this was the match in a creek bed. My first antler find submerged in water.

The set side by side...

Scoping the terrain with my binoculars when all of sudden I spotted a sight every shed hunter dreams of seeing...

While taking a pic of the set above I noticed this dink from last year.

2 miles later...I finally spotted this. I actually walked by it at first and then turned around and said "what the..."

30 minutes later I noticed this antler sticking out like a sore thumb. I know he had to jump the fence in the pic to shed this antler.

7 to 8 miles later we got back to the truck and took a break and then decided to binocular a wheat field before we call it a day. I spotted this guy right away from the road.

And then then 40 yards away I spotted this...hoping it was the other side...but it was not.

"Textbook" shed while hanging close to the fenceline next to a wheat field. Still not a match.

21 antlers total..Not a bad haul for approx. 8 miles of hiking. I took a picture "ATL" (as they lay) of most of the finds except for a lot of the "dinks."

Uncle Charlie and I had great day and also some very enjoyable 60 degree weather. I was hesitant to walk bedding areas this early but we saw many deer and not a single deer with antlers. I think that this past week many have shed their headgear for whatever reason. My feet hurt after todays hike, but cannot wait to get after it next weekend in search of some more bone!

...But Ryan, what do you do with all them antlers you find?

I just like to collect and disply them in diffferent ways. I call it "hornography." I enjoy looking for sheds just as much as deer hunting. I just feel so damn free when I just pack on a backpack loaded with fluids and a camera and food and binoculars and of course the other essentials. There is nothing like shredding rubber from your boots as you just pack on the miles through all kinds of terrain looking for some bone!